Angularly adjustable shelf bracket



T. E. KENNEDY ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF BRACKET April 26, 1966 FiledDec. 50, 1965 United States Patent 3,248,079 ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE SHELFBRACKET Thomas E. Kennedy, Niles, Mich, assignor to Clark EquipmentCompany, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 334,4624 Claims. (Cl. 248-242) The present invention relates to an adjustableshelf bracket, and more particularly to a shelf bracket which is bothvertically and angularly adjustable on a slotted standard or upright.

In shelf brackets of the type mounted for angular adjustment on slotteduprights, it. is desirable that the brackets be light in weight in orderto facilitate the handling thereof and allow a greater proportion of theload supported by the uprights to be represented by the merchandise, yetthat they be amply strong to support such greater weight of merchandise.It is furthermore important that the angular adjustment structure besimple so that the adjustments may be made quickly and easily, that itprovide a secure engagementwith the upright in all positions so as toavoid possible dislodgement, and that it occupy only a small space sothat the uprights may be of relatively slight depth. A good bearingsurface of the bracket on the upright is also advantageous, to providefor firm support of the bracket and of the shelf mounted thereon.

The present invention has for its objects the provision of ashelf-supporting bracket which is angularly adjustable to a number ofdifferent positions, as well as being vertically adjustable, which issimple and inexpensive to manufacture, which is securely engaged with asupporting upright in all positions, which has good bearing contact withthe upright in all positions,' and which has minimal projection of thesecuring and adjusting means rearwardly of the brackets so as to requireonly shallow-depth upright members.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a conventionalslotted upright, showing the bracket of the invention in side elevation,engaged with the .upright in a first angularly adjusted positionthereof;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the bracket in asecond-adjusted angular position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but

showing the bracket in a third angularly adjusted position; and

FIGURE 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view on a small scale showing thesupporting structure for the bracket, and illustrating three angularpositions of the bracket corresponding to those of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,shown respectively in full, dotted, and dot-dash lines.

Referring to the drawings, the adjustable bracket of the presentinvention is designated generally as 10, and is associated with astandard or upright U which extends vertically upward from a supportingbase B and may be of channel or hat section, or tubular, for example, toprovide a web formed with a series of vertically spaced apertures orslots S therein, as is well known in the art. The bracket may be formedof metal sheet or plate of suitable strength and thickness, andcomprises a generally planar body portion 11 adapted for disposition ina vertical plane and having a straight shelf-carrying edge provided witha flange 12. The bracket body 11 engages at what may be termed its rearend edge with the upright U, and may extend forwardly for any desiredlength or distance from the rear edge. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe bracket, provision is made for disposing it in three differentangular positions inclined downwardly and forwardly relative to theupright, although it will become apparent that the number of angularpositions may be varied.

The rear end edge 13 of the bracket body 11 is straight, as indicated inthe drawings, and includes a lower straight portion 14 in the sameplane. The rear edge 13 in-' cluding the lower rear portion 14 engagesagainst the outer face of the slotted web of the upright U .in the firstangularly adjusted position of the bracket, that is the position shownin FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG.

4. In the present instance, the rear edge 13 is shown as extending at anangle of somewhat more than to the upper straight edge of the bracketbody 11, to allow for downward deflection of the bracket under the loadof supported merchandise displayed on the shelf carried by the bracketas well as to tend to prevent falling of merchandise off the shelves.Obviously, the angle between the upper edge and rear edge of the body ofthe bracket 10, may be 90, or more or less than 90, as may be desired.The rear portion of the bracket 10 may be provided with a pair ofbearing lugs 15 struck from the rear portion of the body and bent inopposite directions laterally of the bracket body 11, as shown in FIGS.1 to 3 inclusive. The lugs 15 are preferably formed adjacent the centralportion of the rear edge of the body 11, and serve as additional bearingmeans in the first angularly adjusted position of the bracket, engagingagainst the upright U and assisting in distribution of the load.Extending integrally from the rear edge 13 of the bracket body 11 arethree rearward projections spaced along the edge 13, comprising an uppertongue 16, a lower tongue 17 and a tang 18. The tang 18 is disposed justabove the lower portion 14 of the-rear bracket edge,

and the lower tongue 17 is disposed between the tang 18 and the uppertongue 16, which is located adjacent the upper edge of the body 11. Thetongues and tang are so located relative to each other along the rearedge of the body'll as to be simultaneously engageable in three of theslots S of the upright U, the relative positions of the tongues and tangin the present instance being such that the tongues 16 and 17 engage invertically adjacent slots S, while the tang 18 engages in the secondslot below that which receives the lower tongue 17, in the first or FIG.1 position of the bracket. Each of the tongues 16 and 17 is providedwith a downwardly opening notch 19 in its lower sufrace of a width atleast equal to the thickness of the material of the slotted upright web,the rear edge of each notch 19 being substantially parallel to the planeof the rear edge 13 of the bracket body, and spaced from such plane by adistance at least equal to the thickness of the web material, but notconsiderably greater than such thickness. As best shown in FIG. 1, thenotches 19 are dovetailed or undercut so as to allow for a coating ofpaint or the like on the upright U, allowing the bracket to seatproperly on the upright U. In this position, it will be evident fromFIG.

1 that the rear edge 13 of the body 11 of the bracket it including thelower portion 14, and also including the rear edges of the lugs 15,engages in good bearing relation against the outer face of the slottedweb of the upright totransmit the load represented by the merchandise onthe shelf carried by the bracket 10. As will also be evident from FIG.1, the lower surface of the tang 18, which in this instance is shown asrectangular,

3 is so spaced from the bottoms of the notches 19 as to seat on thelower edge of the tang-receiving slot edge when the bottom edges of thenotches seat 'on the lower edges of the slots receiving the tongues 16and 17, respectively. The tongues 16 and 17 and the tang 18 are of suchvertical dimensions as to move readily through the respective slots S ofthe upright U. The bracket may thus be readily engaged with anddisengaged from the upright.

The bracket is engaged on the upright in the position of FIG. 1 bydisposing the rear end thereof adjacent the slotted upright web with thetongues 16 and 17 and tang 18 opposite the respective slots S which areto receive them, moving the bracket rearwardly to engage the tongues andtang in the slots, and then moving the bracket'downwardly to dispose thenotches 19 inembracing relation to the lower edges of the slots. Thebottom edges of the notches are engaged on the lower slot edges, and thelower surface of the tang 18 similarly is seated on the lower edge ofits associated slot with the rear edges of the notches 19 bearing on therear face of the web.

The rear bracket edge 13, including the lower portion 14 thereof and thelugs 15, bears on the upright as already pointed out. tion, it is onlynecessary to' move it upwardly on the upright so as to disengage thenotches 19 from the upright and then to move the bracket forwardly todraw the tongues 16 and 17 and tang 18 out of the slots S.

The upper tongue 16 is considerably longer than the lower tongue 17, andhas in its lower edge a second downwardly opening notch 20, the rearedge of which is disposed at an angle to the rear edge 13 of the bracketcorresponding to the downward inclination of the bracket desired in thesecond or intermediate angular position,

shown in FIG. 2. The bottom edge of the notch is substantiallyperpendicular to the rear edge, and the width of the notch is preferablyslightly greater than the thickness of the slotted web of the upright,as will be evident from FIG. -2. Extending forwardly from the lower endof the lower rear edge portion 14 of the bracket is a seating edge orsurface 21, disposed at an angle to the portion 14 as hereinafterdescribed, and defining a ledge or shoulder. The rear edge of the notch20 in the upper tongue 16 is disposed in a plane extending at an anglerelative to the rear edge 13 of the bracketbody 11, the anglecorresponding to the difference in inclination of the bracket desiredbetween the first and second positions. In the second or intermediateposition shown inFIG. 2, the point or juncture 22 between the edges orsurfaces'14 and 21 engages against the slotted web of the upright, beingspaced forwardly of the plane of the rear edge ofnotch 20 by a distancecorresponding to the web thickness. The tang 18 engages on the loweredge of the slot in which it is received, and the notch 20 receives thelower edge of the slot through which the tongue 16 projects, the rearedge of the notch 20 bearing on the inner face of the web. The tongue 17is formed of such shape and size as to have a slight clearance relativeto the web in this position of i the bracket, this clearance being shownsomewhat exag gerated in FIG. 2. The bracket is disposed in and removedfrom the second angular position in substantially the same manner asdescribed in connection with the position of FIG. 1, except that thetongue 17 does not engage in a slot of the upright web.

The bracket is also disposable in a third angular position, inclineddownwardly and forwardly at a greater angle than the second position, asshown in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the upper tongue 16 is provided withan upwardly directed notch 23 in its upper edge having a rear I edge 24in a plane extending at an angle to the rear end edge 13 of therbody 11corresponding to the downward inclination of the bracket desiredrelative to its position as shown in FIG. 1. The seating surfaceor edge21 extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the notch rearedge 24, and at an acute angle relative to the To disengage the bracketfrom this posi-,

lower portion 14 of the body rear edge 13. A bearing surface 25 isformed at the rear end of the bracket, ex.-

tending downwardly fromthe forward end of the seata ing edge or surface21 for any appropriate distance. The bearing surfacev 25 extends inaplane parallel to the plane of the rear edge 24 of the notch 23, andspaced;

forwardly therefrom by a distance corresponding to the thickness of theslotted web of the upright.

To dispose the bracket in the most sharply angled or third position asshown in FIG. 3, the bracket is disposed with the tongue 16 and tang 18in opposition to two of the slots S in the upright web, and movedrearwardly to extend the upper tongue 16 through one of the slots and 1the tang 18 through a lower slot, until the upwardly opening notch 23 inthe upper edge of tongue 16 is below the upper edge of thetongue-receiving slot, whereupon the bracket is moved upwardly so thatthe rear edge 24 of the notch extends above the level of the upper edgeof the tongue-receiving slot. The lower portion of the rear end of thebracket is then swung rearwardly so that both the tang 18 and the point22 between the surfaces 14 and 21 extend through the tang-receiving slotand the bearing surface 25 engages the outer face of the web. The seating surface 21 engages on the lower edge of the tang-.

receiving slot to maintain the rear edge 24 of the notch 23 in tongue 16projecting upwardly beyond the upper edge of the tongue-receiving slot,and in engagement with the rear or inner face of the upright web. Aswillbe apparent from a comparison of FIG. 3 with FIGS. 1

and 2, the bracket is elevated relative to its positionin FIGS. 1 and 2by reason of the provision of the seating surface or edge 21 spacedbelow the tang 18,and its ongagement on the lower edge of the slot. Thedistance between the seating surface 21 and the bottom of the notch 23is slightly less than the distance between the lower edge of thetang-receiving slot S and the upper edge of the tongue-receiving slot,as shown in FIG. 3, in order to allow for a slight clearance in applyingand removing 1 the bracket to and from the upright U in the thirdposition. Removal of. the bracket is accomplished by sub-.

stantialreversal of the movements employed in applying 1 the bracket.

By providing the notch 23. in the upper edge of the tongue 16, andproviding a ledge or shoulder with the seating surface 21 to raise thetongue relative to the upright, the third position is provided forwithoutrequiring an unduly long tongue, and without undue weakening ofthe tongue.

It will be apparent that the particular angles at which the bracket isdisposed relative tothe upright may be varied from the particular anglesshown, merely by changes in the relative angularity of the appropriatesurfaces or edges of the bracket parts. Similarly, the bracket may beadapted for dispositionin more than three angular, positions byproviding additional adjusting means in ac-. cordance with the principledisclosed.

The bracket as disclosed herein is simple to manufacture and use, isreadily adjustable to its several angular positions, is securelyinter-engaged with the upright in all 1 its angular positions, requiresminimum space for accommodation of the tongues, and has good bearingengage-.

ment on the upright in all positions.

It will be understood that the single embodiment of the inventionillustrated herein in exemplary of the inventive concept and that theinvention is not limited to such embodiment, since modifications andvariations thereof,

may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shelf support comprising an upright member hav-. ing a web ofpredetermined thickness and provided with j at least 3 vertically spacedlapentures therein, and

a bracket selectively and adjustably engageable with said 1 apertures,said bracket comprising a bracket body having a rear end edge providinga first substantially flat.

bearing surface and a second substantially flat bearing surfaceextending forwardly at an angle relative to said first surface andoffset forwardly therefrom, a third surface connecting the first andsecond surfaces and substantially perpendicular to the second surface,first and second tongues and a tang projecting rearwardly from the rearend of said body arranged to be simultaneouly engageable in three ofsaid apertures, said tank being located in spaced relation to thejuncture of the first and third surfaces and said second tongue beinglocated between said first tongue and the tang, a first notch in eachtongue opening in the direction of the tang and of a width to engageover the lower edge of each of two of the apertures, the rear edges ofsaid first notches each having at least a portion thereof spaced fromthe plane of said first surface by a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the web material, a second notch in the first tonguerearwardly of and opening in the same general direction as the firstnotch therein and of a width at least equal to said material thickness,the rear edge of said second notch having at least a portion thereoflying in a plane extending at an angle to said first surface and passingrearwardly of said juncture by said material thickness distance, and athird notch in the first tongue rearwardly of the second notch openingin the direction away from the tang and second tongue and of a width atleast equal to the web material thickness, the'rear edge of said thirdnotch having at least a portion thereof spaced from the plane of saidsecond surface by said material thickness distance, said third surfacebeing spaced from the bottom of the third notch by a distance slightlyless than the spacing between the lower edge of the tang-receivingaperture and-the upper edge of the first tongue receiving aperture butsufliciently great to dispose said third notch rear edge projectingabove the level of said upper aperture edge rearwardly thereof uponengagement of the third surface on said lower aperture edge, and saidsecond surface being engageable in bearing relation on the web upon saidengagement of the third surface on said lower aperture edge and saiddisposition of the third notch rear edge.

2. A shelf support comprising an upright member having a web ofpredetermined thickness and provided with a plurality of verticallyspaced apertures therein, and a bracket selectively and adjustablyengageable with said apertures, said bracket comprising a bracket bodyhaving a rear edge providing a first substantially flat bearing sur-vface and a second substantially flat bearing surface extending forwardlyat an angle relative to said first surface and offset forwardlytherefrom, a third surface connecting the first and second surfaces, atongue and a tang projecting rearwardly from the rear end of said bodyspaced from each other for simultaneous engagement in two of saidapertures, said tang being located between said tongue and the junctureof the first and third surfaces, and said tongue being spaced from thetang in the direction away from said juncture, a first notch in thetongue opening in the direction of the tang and of a width to engageover the lower edge of the tongue-receiving aperture, the rear edge ofsaid first notch having at least a portion thereof spaced from the planeof said first surface by a distance not less than the thickness of theweb material, a second notch in the tongue rearwardly of and opening inthe same general direction as the first notch and of a width at leastequal to said web material thickness, the rear edge of said second notchhaving at least a portion thereof lying in a plane passing rearwardly ofsaid juncture by said material thickness distance, and a third notch inthe tongue opening in the direction away from the tang and of a width atleast equal to the material thickness, the rear edge of said third notchhaving at least a portion thereof lying in a plane parallel to the planeof said second surface and spaced therefrom by said material thicknessdistance, said third surface being engageable on the lower edge of thetang- 6 v receiving aperture and spaced from the third notch by adistance to dispose said third notch rear edge projecting above thelevel of the upper edge of the tongue-receiving aperture rearwardlythereof upon engagement of the third surface on said lower apertureedge.

3. A shelf bracket adapted for application in any of three angularlyadjusted positions to an upright member including a web of predeterminedthickness having therein at least three vertically spaced apertures,comprising a bracket body having a rear end edge providing a firstsubstantially flat bearing surface and a second substantially flatbearing surface extending forwardly at an angle relative to said firstsurface and offset forwardly therefrom, a third surface connecting thefirst and second surfaces and substantially perpendicular to the secondsurface, first and second tongues and a tang projecting rearwardly fromthe rear end of said body and spaced therealong in correspondence to thevertical spacing of a plurality of apertures of a web, said tang beinglocated in spaced relation to the juncture of the first and thirdsurfaces and said second tongue being located between said first tongueand the tang, a first notch in each tongue opening in the direction ofthe tang and of a width substantially equal to the predeterminedthickness of a web, the rear edges of said first notches each having atleast a portion thereof extending in a common plane parallel to theplane of said first surface and spaced therefrom by a distancesubstantially equal to the predetermined thickness of a web, a secondnotch in the first tongue rearwardly of and opening in the same generaldirection as the first notch therein and of a width at least equal tothe predetermined thickness of a web, a rear edge of said second notchlying in a plane passing rearwardly of said juncture by a distancesubstantially equal to the predetermined thickness of a web, and a thirdnotch in the first tongue rearwardly of the second notch opening in thedirection away from the tang and secondtongue and of a width at leastequal to the predetermined thickness of a web, the rear edge of saidthird notch lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said secondsurface and spaced therefrom by said predetermined thickness, said thirdsurface being spaced from the bottom of the third notch by a distancegreater than the vertical spacing of apertures in a web but less thanthe sum of the vertical spacing plus height of a web aperture, and thedistance between said third surface and the end of said third notch rearedge remote from the notch bottom being greater than said sum.

4. A shelf bracket adapted for application in any of a plurality ofangularly adjusted positions to an upright member including la web ofpredetermined thickness having therein a plurality of vertically spacedapertures, comprising a bracket body having a rear end edge providing afirst substantially flat bearing surface and a second substantially fiatbearing surface extending forwardly at an angle relative to said firstsurface and offset forwardly therefrom, a third surface connecting thefirst and second surfaces and substantially perpendicular to the secondsurface, a tongue and a tang projecting rearwardly from the rear end ofsaid body spaced from each other in correspondence to the verticalspacing of a plurality of apertures of a web, said tang beingtlocatedbetween said tongue and the juncture of the first and third surfaces andsaid tongue being spaced from the tang in the direction away from saidjuncture, a first notch in the tongue opening in the direction of thetang and of a width substantially equal to the predetermined thicknessof a web, at least one point in the rear edge of said first notch lyingin a plane parallel to the plane of said first surface and spacedtherefrom by a distance substantially equal to the predeterminedthickness of a web, a second notch in the tongue rearwardly of andopening in the same general direction as the first notch and of a widthat least equal to the predetermined thickness of a web, at least onepoint in the rear edge of said second notch lying in a plane passingrearwardly predetermined thickness of a web, and a third notch in thetongue opening in the direction away from the tang and of a width atleast equal to the predetermined thick ness of a web, at least one pointin the rear edge of said third notch lying in a plane parallel to theplane of said second surface and spaced therefrom by the predeterminedthickness of a web, said third surface being spaced from the bottom ofthe third notch by a distance greater than the vertical spacing ofapertures in a web but less than the sum of the vertical spacing plusthe height of a web aperture, and the distance between said thirdsurface and the end of said third notch rear edge remote from the notchbottom being greater than said sum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1959 Levy 248-243 X 1' 5/ 1963 Lozier 248242 6/1963 Chesley 248243 X 6/1963 Oztekin248242 8/1963 Streater 248-242 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1961 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SHELF SUPPORT COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT MEMBER HAVING A WEB OFPREDETERMINED THICKNESS AND PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST 3 VERTICALLY SPACEDAPERTURES THEREIN, AND A BRACKET SELECTIVELY AND ADJUSTABLY ENGAGEABLEWITH SAID APERTURES, SAID BRACKET COMPRISING A BRACKET BODY HAVING AREAR END EDGE PROVIDING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BEARING SURFACE AND ASECOND SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BEARING SURFACE EXTENDING FORWARDLY AT ANANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST SURFACE AND OFFSET FORWARDLY THEREFROM, ATHIRD SURFACE CONNECTING THE FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES AND SUBSTANTIALLYPERPENDICULAR TO THE SECOND SURFACE, FIRST AND SECOND TONGUES AND A TANGPROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM THE REAR END OF SAID BODY ARRANGED TO BESIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGEABLE IN THREE OF SAID APERTURES, SAID TANK BEINGLOATED IN SPACED RELATION TO THE JUNCTURE OF THE FIRST AND THIRDSURFACES AND SAID SECOND TONGUE BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST TONGUEAND THE TANG, A FIRST NOTCH IN EACH TONGUE OPENING IN THE DIRECTION OFTHE TANG AND OF A WIDTH TO ENGAGE OVER THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF TWO OFTHE APERTURES, THE REAR EDGES OF SAID FIRST NOTCHES EACH HAVING AT LEASTA PORTION THEREOF SPACED FROM THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST SURFACE BY ADISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE WEB MATERIAL, ASECOND NOTCH IN THE FIRST TONGUE REARWARDLY OF AND OPENING IN THE SAMEGENERAL DIRECTION AS THE FIRST NOTCH THEREIN AND OF A WIDTH AT LEASTEQUAL TO SAID MATERIAL THICKNESS, THE REAR EDGE OF SAID SECOND NOTCHHAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF LYING IN A PLANE EXTENDING AT AN ANGLETO SAID FIRST SURFACE AND PASSING REARWARDLY OF SAID JUNCTURE BY SAIDMATERIAL THICKNESS DISTANCE, AND A THIRD NOTCH IN THE FIRST TONGUEREARWARDLY OF THE SECOND NOTCH OPENING IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM THETANG AND SECOND TONGUE AND OF A WIDTH AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WEB MATERIALTHICKNESS, THE REAR EDGE OF SAID THIRD NOTCH HAVING AT LEAST A PORTIONTHEREOF SPACED FROM THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND SURFACE BY SAID MATERIALTHICKNESS DISTANCE, SAID THIRD SURFACE BEING SPACED FROM THE BOTTOM OFTHE THIRD NOTCH BY A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE SPACING BETWEEN THELOWER EDGE OF THE TANG-RECEIVING APERTURE AND THE UPPER EDGE OF THEFIRST TONGUE-RECEIVING APERTURE BUT SUFFICIENTLY GREAT TO DISPOSE SAIDTHIRD NOTCH REAR EDGE PROJECTING ABOVE THE LEVEL OF SAID UPPER APERTUREEDGE REARWARDLY THEREOF UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE THIRD SURFACE ON SAIDLOWER APERTURE EDGE, AND SAID SECOND SURFACE BEING ENGAGEABLE IN BEARINGRELATION ON THE WEB UPON SAID ENGAGEMENT OF THE THIRD SURFACE ON SAIDLOWER APERTURE EDGE AND SAID DISPOSITION OF THE THIRD NOTCH REAR EDGE.